Registered: Dec 1999
Location:
Posts: 119

1. I would not swap -- I love the blue color and the USB cradle. I haven't used the springboard part yet, but I expect I will -- and I like the option.

2. Color? Color? We don't need no steenkeeng color!

3. Yeah, they'll probably need to follow right along.

4. The cool blue color -- and the big memory -- and the replaceable batteries -- and the option for springboard modules!

Registered: Jan 2000
Location:
Posts: 6

You guys have made some excellent points. I have changed my answers now. I think I would keep the Visor. Here are the answers in 1-4 format.

1. No, I would not swap the Visor for a Vx.

2. Same answer as before, "I would be, but since I already put money towards a Visor, I can't imagine spending it again. If I had known that Palm was going to come out with color, I may have waited to see what it was like (not necessarily bought it though)."

3. Yes, I think they will, and yes I probably would buy their Color device down the road, but not necessarily right away (budget constraints). I love Handspring and will support them over Palm.

4. I went for cost, but now that I think about it, the Springboards are also a great reason to go Visor instead of Palm.


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VisorGuy2000

Registered: Nov 1999
Location: Boston, MA, USA
Posts: 90

Richard,

Here's another for your survey

1-Nope. The potential for upgrades via the Springboard slot would stop me canning the Visor. I wouldn't mind the Visor in a brushed aluminum case though (same size as it is now).

2-No, and not just because I've spend the money. Some people feel 'cheated' that they just shelled out and now there's something better coming out. Well, guess what - that's computer technology for you (remember Morre's law..?). I would not buy color until someone comes up with the next generation rechargable battery. I like being able to run my Visor for several weeks on one set of AAAs. That will go down to hours with a color screen. Until there are rechargable systems that can power a color system for a couple of months, I'm not interested (and then what happens when you're out and about and it runs down?). This is only a handheld after all...!

3-I suppose they will but I hope as someone else said, it will be a different device and that the Visor lives on as it is. I expect that will be the case so that they can have products at several price points.

4-The Springboard. Even if I don't use it right away, the fact that I _could_ use it at any time is great. Also from what I saw on the HS site before this thing shipped, it looked like they were pretty open about developing stuff to go in the slot. I thought there might be a use for connectable, expandable handhelds in my job. Also I'm a gadget freak, so just the chance to be the first on my block with a new toy was a powerful factor. To be blunt, we should all know better than to complain so much about HS... we're all early adopters and it's always the early adopters who get burned. It's the price we pay for having cool new stuff...!

Well, sorry it's taken so long to answer your simple questions...!
Look forward to the article

Registered: Jan 2000
Location:
Posts: 6

Thank you to everyone that posted a response to my survey. I won't be writing the article for a few more days, so feel free to continue answering this discussion.


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Richard Kettner
Handspring Weekly Editor
Palm Weekly Editor

Registered: Oct 1999
Location: Philadelphia
Posts: 242

quote:

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Originally posted by richardkettner:
Fellow Visor Users,

1. If you could do a unit for unit swap (no cost), would you trade your Visor Deluxe in for a Palm Vx? Why or Why Not?
No. I bought Visor largely because of the Springboard issues and price. Eliminate price...Springboard. That's still important. THis also answers question 4.


2. When Palm releases their color device next month. Will you be tempted to buy it? Why or Why Not?
Yes. Color is cool. But it has to work in terms of battery efficiency and price, too. This also answers the question re: visor and color
...thanks! I appreciate all your postings.


[/B]

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Registered: Oct 1999
Location: Hillsboro, OR, USA
Posts: 64

1) No, I'd stick with the Visor Dx. No, there aren't any Springboards yet, but they'll surface enventually. The only real reason to go with a Palm Vx is for the size. That doesn't make any real difference to me since my rain coat (Oregon) jacket pocket is rather large anyway.

2) I'd be tempted to buy it, but I'd hold off. Mainly for the same reason that I hold off on all of Intel's new chips. Eventually, the techonology will mature and the prices will drop. That's what I'm waiting for. A color devie will be fine, but for a first generation device, I'm very happy with my Visor Dx.

3) Of course Handspring will go to color, they'd be stupid if they didn't. I'd be surprised if they weren't thinking about color when they released the first Handsprings. Do I care? Sure. I'll upgrade eventually and if Handpring plays its cards right, I'll buy a color Handpring unit instead of a Palm unit.

4) The Springboard slot and the extra RAM were the main things that drew me to the Visor. Datebook+ was just a minor plus.

Registered: Dec 1999
Location:
Posts: 106

1. If you could do a unit for unit swap (no cost), would you trade your Visor Deluxe in for a Palm Vx? Why or Why Not?

HEY! SOMEBODY MAKE AN ANODIZED ALUMINUM CASE FOR THE VISOR! IN COLORS! (3RD PARTY IF NECESSARY!!!)
Visor size is okay for me (big hands ), but an aluminum case would be a great improvement.

2. When Palm releases their color device next month. Will you be tempted to buy it? Why or Why Not?

No. Don't use the PDA for data requiring color. Resolution, speed, battery drain also issues.

3. Do you think Handspring will be moving to color? Do you care if they do?

Don't care (see #2).

4. Besides cost, what tempted you to go with the Visor?

Color cases, memory, future springboard use (esp. b/u module, memory modules)

Registered: Nov 1999
Location: Orem, UT, USA
Posts: 22

1. In an instant - without even thinking about it. The form factor wins it for me, and there is already a wireless modem available for the Palm Vx, something that won't be available in springboard form for a while.

2. Yes. Would you use a Monochrome PC Monitor if it were $100 cheaper?

3. I'm sure they will, and soon. I'd like to see it - then I could have an AlbumToGo springboard.

4. The memory. I knew it would be a while before any incredibly amazing springboards would be released, so the expandability is just a bonus. I'm sure I'll own a Palm IIIc before I end up buying any springboards.

Registered: Jan 2000
Location:
Posts: 152

1. No. I like the Springboard and feel better with the backup module away from the house.

2. No. I do not need color for what I do and do not want the battery drain.

3. They will have to stay competative. It does not matter to me now, but maybe in the future, when they get the system worked out and the price down.

4. Handspring modules and memory

Registered: Oct 1999
Location: Richmond, VA, USA
Posts: 64

Fellow Visor Users,

I am writing an article in an upcomming edition of my Handspring Weekly, comparing the Palm Vx with the Visor Deluxe. I have a few questions I would like to ask you. Sort of a mini survey. Here are my questions:

1. If you could do a unit for unit swap (no cost), would you trade your Visor Deluxe in for a Palm Vx? Why or Why Not?

NO! The Palm Vx is small, but I rather like the design of the Visor over it, plus the option for the color casing (mine's in blue ;-) ... There's already too many palm pilots out there and I like having something a little different,...

2. When Palm releases their color device next month. Will you be tempted to buy it? Why or Why Not?

Probably not. Having just bought a Visor and perfectly happy with it, I would want to get my money's worth. I don't see that color is terribly important at this time in a Palm device anyway. Most of the apps work fine with just black and white, and besides, it's probably just going to be a novelty item for awhile anyway, and I don't want a crowd of 20 people hovering over me while I use my datebook just because *my device looks cool* ...

3. Do you think Handspring will be moving to color? Do you care if they do?

Is the Pope Catholic?

4. Besides cost, what tempted you to go with the Visor?

SPRINGBOARD, SPRINGBOARD, SPRINGBOARD! 8 MB RAM, Scientific Calculator, much better protection (compared to the Palm Pilot Professional which I upgraded from), USB synchronization,... Did I mention the SPRINGBOARD slot yet?

Registered: Nov 1999
Location: Gainesville, FL USA
Posts: 112

1. No, no springboards.

2. Maybe tempted, but it'll be hard to justify buying a new PDA now after buying this GnVDx a few months ago. Also, no Springboard support really reduces the chance I'd switch back to a 3Com product.

3. Yes, they will come out with a color device once they see how the market (not the stock market) reacts to the IIIc. I just don't see color as THAT important right now. Maybe if some killer apps come out. Also, I'd want to see some real-world battery life reports first.

4. Cost was a major consideration, but I already had a Palm III that I was pretty happy with. I bought my visor because of the 8MB of RAM and the possibility of expansion.